Style Life Check

I'm thinking about the upcoming weekend and all the stuff we have to do for Style Life - something like 25 approaches. We have to close too. To be honest, I haven't # closed in a long time - more than a month. I've been telling myself that I'm just going to be process oriented and not results oriented, but it's hard not to be in this situation when it's either close or make a shit ton of approaches, and I really haven't been in the mood lately. I've been going out so much, I feel numb almost, emotionally drained. I don't really care about my approaches anymore except racking up numbers and making sure I get in a DHV.

I went out with Effect yesterday to do day 18 or day 19, I'm not sure - it's the 'seeding' assignment for the Style Life challenge. I got in my one approach with the seed, and seeded 2 more, one with this photographer guy who met us at Clarke's later on. Seems like a cool guy, a bit wacky. We did our early night gaming at the old reliable Wicker Park. The set I approached were thoroughly mediocre looking biatches. I did not care either way whether I succeeded with them, which is typical nowadays for me.

When we went out the other week with the lair and the lair guys were pushing me into sets, I felt like it was too much pressure. And now this pressure to close with the challenge. On top of this my inner game is still shit, I'm having a hard time getting back into it after last week. I don't know why I keep thinking about my ex, she pops into my mind at the weirdest times, and then this feeling of desolation because I know she is not the same person anymore and we couldn't go back to the way it was even if we wanted to, which I don't.

JayDog is actually getting more action than any of us - at least he has gotten to first base, although that wasn't really from an approach. He's also more in touch with his priorities than we are.

There are a few personal projects that I really should get started on, which I haven't had time to due to the Challenge. I believe in the idea of the challenge, but I really think that my problem is inner game, and a lot of fixing my inner game has nothing to do with being out in the field. On the other hand I told myself that I'd see this through. I'm pretty close to reaching my initial goal of 250 approaches a lot sooner than I had planned - I don't feel like I'm acquiring any type of mastery, I feel like I've improved greatly over how I was when I started, but I'm still not where I thought I'd be at this point in my career. Maybe this means I'm going too fast. Maybe this means I have serious inner game problems and have a longer road than most people. Maybe this means that something good is about to reveal itself to me. Rourke mentioned that he just kept plugging away at it, that his approaches just kept going nowhere and then one day he just started to click. I believe the same thing will happen for me, if I stay on this path, hopefully it will be sooner rather than later.

183 approaches

Before I Forget

I've done a bunch of approaches in the past week and a half that I haven't documented, I should really post them before I forget them. I'll post them really quickly here, I'm at work right now and can't write a lot. None were really spectacular, although none were really terrible either. I'm consistently getting to A3 these days, sometimes C1, probably a few of these had potential. My inner state has been all over the place lately, despite all the nlp and meditation that I do. I've been in contact with my ex again, which was fucking with me - Effect made me delete her number from my phone. I also got hit by some pretty large student loan bills for grad school, which sent me into a fit of self flagellating depression. I'm mostly over all that right now - this is my life, I'm an intelligent, competent, motivated person; whatever happens, and whatever successes or failures I experience I take direct responsibility for.

We were sitting around GayHop the other night talking about how life can affect your game. If I'm completely honest with myself, the non-game areas of my life are not completely in order - finances, relationships, health, spirituality, career, home, etc. are not where they should be, to varying degrees. What if they were functioning on all cylinders? Don't you think the game would naturally improve? Because then I'd be able to completely be in the moment, and I wouldn't have this feeling underlying everything I do that there are other things I should be attending to. I probably wouldn't have any problem walking up to any bar hoochie and thinking that I'm the prize, because I am the prize.

Date: August 19, 2006
Location: Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL
Players: me + 1 wing

I just found these notes sitting on my computer, waiting for me to turn them into a blog entry.
God this was so long ago, this was two weekends ago when me and Effect went day gaming on Michigan Avenue and got caught in this huge thunderstorm. These were for day 8 of the Style Life challenge - approaching groups using root+opener+TC. I'll just post some brief notes when relevant.

5 set hs on street - I kept persisting even when I get frozen out, which is good. They were hot but young.

indian redhead w glasses nordstroms - They thought it was a trip, probably never get approached, I eject due to lack of interest. UGs.

spanish chick - HB9 hottie. From Spain, visiting family, aborted due to language barrier.

asian chick w bf - HB8, aborted due to the fact that her bf was right there.

lesbos - biatches, UG's at Borders looking at magazines. Whatevah, it's an approach.

That night we go to Rodan, Effect makes some approaches - I am too tired to approach and we bail early.


The next day, I do some day game with Effect, then we hit this club Suite with JayDog, but I don't do any approaches. Wasn't into it during day game and the club we went to was dead. Nice place though, really upscale place in OldTown.

Monday was really bad, I won't go into it. Tuesday I was in a daze, recovering from Monday. Wednesday was the same probably, I can't remember. Thursday I remember I played guitar all night and meditated, trying to forget my money problems, ex gf problems, job problems, whatever. Last week was pretty bad.

Friday night I went out again. I went out to some galleries with Effect, later we met up with JayDog and Diva - we hit this place called Darkroom which was pretty sweet, then we picked up Diva and went to a diner. I did some street approaches Friday night, 5 to be exact, but my state was shit, and I got AA at Darkroom.

Saturday night I picked up Effect from work, and JayDog came over. We all went to Darkroom again. My state was still shit, but I forced myself to open sets up anyway - I opened 15 sets in a little over an hour, probably a record for me. None were that great, althought thinking back on it - some had potential. I was just trying to get over my AA from the night before, I was in kind of a zone. I don't remember much about these sets - I know I was disqualifying myself and getting to A3 with a bunch of them. None of these girls were particularly hot either. Everything's a blur - I think about 5 of them were stadning right next to their bf's - who were eyeing me suspiciously, one set was an HB6 and a couple of trannies. A pretty grim night of sarging. I'm glad I have my buds to drag me out and try to lift my mood. I'd probably still be in my crap state from last week.

Sunday I slept most of the day, talked to JCB on the phone about his date, played guitar. Monday me and Effect went out to Cobra - it was totally dead. We drove around Andersonville, and stopped at Holiday Club - everything was dead. I don't even know what day of the challenge I'm on right now, I'm probably caught up with all the approaches though.

A couple of positive things that have come about from my grim week of financial and ex gf problems: My place is now totally clean except for one last scrub down by the maid, I still have to organize my financial papers, though. I have finished a couple of books about goal setting and finances, and I've come up with the beginnings of a long term career plan, which I'll continue to develop. I'm pretty much debt free right now afaik, although I'm a lot lighter in the pockets.

182 approaches

21 Secrets of Self Made Millionaires

From the book by Brian Tracy

Self-Made Millionaires are not smarter or better than you. They have just discovered these secrets and used them to become wealthy. You can do it too.

(1) DREAM BIG DREAMS. Thinking Big will change your life. For a crash course on this read "The Magic of Thinking Big."

(2) CREATE A SPECIFIC PICTURE OF WHERE YOU'RE GOING. The more specific you are the more likely you are to get there.

(3) THINK AND ACT LIKE YOU'RE THE OWNER OF A BUSINESS, THE BUSINESS OF EVERYTHING YOU DO. Even if you work for someone else, you're attitude will plant seeds for your independent greatness to grow.

(4) LOVE WHATEVER YOU ARE DOING NOW. If you don't love it, leave it. By saying no to doing work just for money you are magnetizing work to you that you can love.

(5) CREATE A MASTERMIND GROUP. Have a regular meeting with others who are committed to building great lives. Share what you're up to and support each other.

(6) ESTABLISH A HEALTHY WORK ETHIC. Make taking action your best friend.

(7) COMMIT TO CONSTANT NEVER-ENDING IMPROVEMENT. Every day be searching for how you can learn more.

(8) SEE YOUR WORK AS SERVICE. Helping others will grow your business.

(9) KNOW YOUR BUSINESS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. That's your job.

(10) PREPARE FOR OPPORTUNITY. It will knock. Will you be ready?

(11) STAY PHYSICALLY FIT. Strong minds create strong bodies. Weak bodies are the result of weak minds. Your physical and mental health are the core of your success in life.

(12) PRIORITIZE YOUR LIFE. Do what's most important first.

(13) DELIVER MORE THAN YOUR CUSTOMER EXPECTS. This builds loyalty and repeat business. It feels good too.

(14) DISCIPLINE YOURSELF. Fill your life with activities and people that make you grow. Discard activities that have negative results in your life.

(15) PAY YOURSELF FIRST. This is the first rule of the wealthy. Put money into savings before you pay bills. And DON'T touch it.

(16) MAKE TIME TO BE ALONE. This time is for planning and listening to what's inside you. Give your creativity time and silence to speak to you.

(17) GO FOR GREATNESS. Value the best and don't settle for less.

(18) HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. Know who you are and what you want. Express this with integrity at all times.

(19) MAKE DECISIONS QUICKLY AND BE SLOW TO CHANGE THEM.

(20) FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION. Your mindset is focused on success. You will have success.

(21) BE DETERMINED TO ATTAIN YOUR GOALS. Tenacious persistence builds confidence which leads to victory.

I Wanna Fukk You With My Soul

I did 6 approaches yesterday. 5 of them were for day 7 of the Style Life challenge, which involved approaching women or groups of people using standard openers. The last one was a head start on day 8 - assignment for day 8 of the Style Life challenge is to approach 5 women or groups of women using a standard opener, plus a root and a time constraint. I typically use a root and time constraint anyways, but I'm just following the assignments. Day 9 of Style Life is a review/makeup day. We've agreed to stretch out day 9 all weekend. So I basically have to do 4 more approaches today and tomorrow to keep up, which should be pretty easy.

Date: August 19, 2006
Location: South Side Club, Chicago, IL
Players: me + 3 wings

Me, Effect and Jaydog met up at McGearty's last night, and drove down together to JCB's party on the south side. It was raining pretty hard last night, and we got lost. The party was at this club called Bohica, the place was pretty dead, only a few open sets, mostly UG's although JCB approached a pretty attractive chick later on that night. We met some of JCB's martial arts buddies, they seemed pretty cool/crazy. I told JCB I'd check out this martial arts tournament with him next month, should be interesting.

So we're sitting at the bar and I open this UG latina sitting to my left. I hit her with myspace/google. She seemed friendly, but got pulled away by a dude I think, so I turn to the (better looking) HB5/6 latina sitting next to her - slim pickings last night, I thought I'd try to get some sets in even though I wasn't really feeling these chicks - and hit her up with the same routine - you here for the martial arts party? Then myspace/google. This had to be the stupidest girl I've approached yet. She didn't know what myspace or google was. Has she been living under a rock? Plus I noticed she had been drinking a lot that night, so maybe that affected her conversational skills. Anyways, I eject after a little while due to lack of interest in this chick, and some latino dude starts talking to her. Whatev, another brick in my palace, yadda yadda.

After a while, JCB makes an approach, but there wasn't anyone left at the bar that was open, and Effect and Jaydog had to make 5 approaches that night, so we tell JCB we have to bail and hightail it to the old reliable Wicker Park.

Date: August 19, 2006
Location: Wicker Park, Chicago, IL
Players: me + 2 wings

We hang out for a while at McGearty's, but decide to bail. Then we go over to this other place, I forget the name, starts with a T - the guys each make an approach there. We decide to head over to Rodan. On the way to Rodan, I approach a 2 set on the street and get viciously blown out: Exsqueeze me, can I get your opinion on something? We're in a hurry, talk to the hand.

At Rodan I do a really good set on this tall chick. I run through a number of openers and routines, root, neg, dhv. She hooks on cats and dogs. This girl gives me kino and reapproaches me later on a couple of times that night, gives me looks. She wanted me, but I wasn't really feeling her - only reason I approached her group was to get to the artsy chick in the yellow dress and glasses who was talking to some skinny dude. Unfortunately, I didn't get her attention. I get viciously blown out again by some mediocre brunette HB at the bar: Exsqueeze me, do you know of any bars that are open late, like 4 in the morning? No. Sorry.

Date: August 19, 2006
Location: Diner, Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL
Players: me + 2 wings

At Golden Nugz, after some post game de-briefing, I approach an HB7 brunette and game her pretty well. This was my favorite set of the evening. I run through a number of openers, negs, rapport, dhv, etc. Her friend drags her away. She unfortunately had a rather large ass, but I thought she was cute.

Mental note to check myself for: smiling, high energy level, etc. before going in for an approach from now on. Or before any type of social interaction. My therapist tells me that part of my condition is a tendency towards deadpan expression and monotone voice, so I have to constantly check myself, especially before approaches. I'll try this today.

157 approaches

Fred Durst - I Melt With You

Summer's Coming to an End

Last night seemed like a really slow night in Wicker Park. For some reason I thought that Thursdays were big nights in that area. Yesterday I was talking to JCB, he was telling me how he has to cut down on going out because school is starting up again for him. Things will be busier for me next month, as well. Maybe the rest of the Chicago club people are starting to feel the same thing, I dunno. Effect has been sick lately.

Summer is coming to an end pretty soon, in a few weeks it will still technically be summer but it will feel like fall. This has been the best summer in a long, long, time. Even compared to when I was with Sophia. I feel like a totally different person from week to week, I haven't felt this way since I was in college.

The Popculture Suicides

Date: August 15, 2006
Location: Cobra Lounge, Chicago, IL
Players: me + 3 wings

Me, Effect and Jaydog went to see (former Marilyn Manson guitarist, Zim Zum's new band) The Popculture Suicides play a free show at the Cobra Lounge last night. The band was LOUD. My ears are still ringing a little. The Cobra Lounge is sort of an upscale heavy metal club, there was talent there, but not as much as a regular club, and it didn't really appear til the end of the concert when we were leaving. I guess this place doesn't get going til late. We met up with Effect's friend Eric, who also happens to be an ex bf of Diva.

Last night I was trying to get a head start on the day 6 assignment for the Style Life challenge - give 5 random compliments. I turned a couple of these into half assed approaches. The club was not a great place to approach, not too many open sets, it was really loud, etc. I haven't really been in a good state since the Victor Hotel. I have to do something about my state. I am in the process of totally cleaning out and organizing my apartment, and finally getting my career and finances together. This is a huge task - I'm hoping that once this is done that my game will improve, since my inner game will be clear without all the nagging pressures of every day life in the back of my head. Ideally I'd like to balance living a productive life and my pua shenanigans.

First set was a 2 set of UG's. I ask them about the band and when the show is starting, some small talk about how cool the club is and if they go here a lot. I compliment one on her hair. We talk a bit more about music, but I eject since I'm not that into it.

Second set was a 3 set of HB7's - brunettes I believe. I compliment one on her septum ring. Then I break into Effect's Canadian Rock Legacy opener. I screw it up badly. I mention Rush and Toto, they tell me those groups suck. I get tongue tied because I don't know how to stack or follow this up, so I bail. Lousy set, *reminder to myself to stay in the fucking set even if it's getting uncomfortable because that's the only way you will learn* and fucking SBAP.

Anyway, the show was hardcore, on the way out the door I compliment 2 HB's on their cool hats. We go out to eat at Clarke's and I compliment our hot waitress on this hippie scarf thing she was wearing in her hair.

151 approaches